Today, we are celebrating one of the unsung heroes of the superfood world. You may have encountered a few of the better-known, wonderful juices, berries and other superfoods packing excellent antioxidants as well as other health benefits but I bet you never thought to include a berry called the chokeberry. Am I right? Well, a little tartness is a small price to pay for all the benefits you can enjoy from this berry. It’s a native of most of the eastern U.S. and if you don’t have access to the fresh berries, you can sometimes find them available frozen. The chokeberry has more antioxidant ability than the strawberry, blueberry or cranberry. This fabulous berry has high amounts of catechins, the substance most often associated with green tea and most helpful for heart and circulatory health. Current research suggests that it may: increase the body’s insulin production and lower blood sugar levels. Also, it’s looking promising that chokeberries inhibit breast, colon and skin tumors.

Now, with all of these potential terrific benefits, a little tartness isn’t so bad is it?

During the month of May you have the chance to do something fabulous for the health of your small intestine. Do you know how fascinatingyour 20 foot small intestine is? Everybody could use interesting small intestine facts so check some out here.

The picture above illustrates the energetic meridian of the small intestine. To find out the exact locations of the small intestine acupuncture points please go here.

Check out other months’ organs and the suggestions for balancing their health here.

Of course one of the nicest things you can do for your small intestine would be to get some acupuncture for it but that’s not the only thing you could do. Consider using the edge of a spoon (nothing sharp!) and gently scraping from SI1 up the meridian towards SI19 until the meridian line/area becomes a light pink. The posterior shoulder area could be challenging but give it a try! In Chinese medicine we call this gua sha. Make sure to to include both your left and right arms.

Foods that are good for your small intestine include: persimmons, winter melon, spinach and adzuki beans.

Self massage is also a good idea in many cases. Imagine your abdomen is a clock. 12 o’clock is closest to your ribs. 6 o’clock is closest to your pubic bone. 3 o’clock is the left side of your abdomen and that leaves 9 o’clock at the right side. Start at the edge of your belly button and with consistent, firm but gentle pressure, massage in an ever-widening, clock-wise moving circle outward toward the edges of your abdomen. It should be a pleasant sensation. If anything hurts stop. Also, as always, please feel free to call the office if you have any questions or concerns.